Game apparatus.



Patented Dec. 2, I902 n. H. TALBEBT.

GAME APPARATUS.

"(No Model.)

(Application filed Feb. 6, 1902.)

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D. H. TALBERT.

GAME APPARATUS.

( Appliqation filed Feb. 6, 1902.)

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GAMEAPPARATUS.

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DANIEL H. TALBERT, OF GREENWOOD, INDIANA.

GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 714,969, dated December2, 1902.

Application filed February 6, 1902- Serial No. 92,852. (No model.)

To all whom it ntay concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL H. TALBERT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Greenwood, in the county of Johnson and State ofIndiana,haveinvented anew and useful Game Apparatus, of which thefollowing is a specification.

Thisinvention relates generally to game apparatus, and specifically tothat class in which balls rolled by the hand are employed for knockingdown objects located at the end of an alley or table after the manner ofordinary tenpins.

The object of the present invention is to provide a game apparatus ofthe above description which while partaking of the features of anordinary tenpin-alley will differ therefrom in the manner of playing thegame and in the character of the objects employed to be struck by theballs, the differences presented operating to give added interest to thegame and requiring an exercise of additional skill in accomplishing thewinning of a game.

A further object is to obviate the necessity of the employment of anattendant for setting up the objects to be struck or for returning theballs to the player.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts of a game apparatus, as will be hereinafter fully described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, thereis illustrated a form of embodiment of the invention capable of carryingthe same into practical operation, it being understood that the elementstherein exhibited may be varied or changed as to shape, proportion, andexact manner of assemblage without departing from the spirit thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a game apparatusconstructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a viewin transverse section, taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1, and looking in thedirection of the arrow thereon. Fig. 3 is a view in 1ongitudinalsection, taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 2, and looking in the direction ofthe arrow thereon. Fig. at is a detail view in section, showing theconstruction of the lower end of one of the paddles. Fig. 5 is aperspective detail view of a slightly-modified form of ap paratus. Fig.6 is a view in vertical longitudinal section, taken through the deck andthe cushion-housing.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the alley or table, constructedin the usual or any preferred manner and supported upon a base 2, thelatter being secured in any suitable manner at the front end of thealley to posts 3 and at its rear end to similar posts iand 5, the tablebeing of less width than the base to present two gutters, as usual, theballs being prevented from rolling off the gutters by vertical sidepieces 6. The description thus generally given is of one form of alloyadapted for use in connection with the present game; but it is to beunderstood that the same may be otherwise constructed and still bewithin the scope of the present invention. At the rear end of the alleyis provided the usual cushion 7, which terminates at its lower end in atransversely-disposed chute 8, the bottom of which is inclined andmerges into a race 9, leading to the front of the alloy, the race andchute operating as an automatic means for returning the balls to theplayers, thereby obviating the necessity of the employment of anattendant for that purpose.

Supported at a suitable distance abovethe table at the rear end of thealley is a deck 10, comprising a bottom 11 and a front and back 12 and13, respectively, the said deck being adjustably connected with theposts 4: and 5, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, for a reason that willpresently appear. Depending from the bottom of the deck are two hangers14, which support a transversely-disposed rod or bar 15, upon which arepivotally mounted in any preferred manner the paddles 16, constitutingthe objects to be struck, there being shown in this instance but five ofthe paddles; but it is to be understood that this number may beincreased, if found necessary or desirable. The paddles are bypreference constructed of wood and have their lower ends reduced inwidth in order that unless a ball strikes fairly between two of thepaddles only one will he tripped, it being a desideratum and necessaryto make a score that at least two of the paddles be tripped withone'ball, for under the rules of the game unless all of the paddles aretripped the player does not score.

Under some conditions it might be desirable to have the lower ends ofthe paddles arranged at such distance above the alley as to render itpossible only to trip one paddle, and this is effected by adjustingmechanism hereinafter described. To lessen the shock of the blow fromthe ball, the lower ends of the paddles are cushioned, in this instanceby attaching thereto a length of rubber hose or tubing 17, whichentirely surrounds the said portions of the paddles, and combined withthe cushion at thefront side thereof is a heavy piece of leather 18,which will operate to heighten the cushioning effect, the leather andtubing being held assembled with the paddle by a bolt or rivet 19 andoperating as counterweights to cause the paddles normally to occupy avertical position; but it is to be understood that, if preferred, onlythe front and side edges of the paddles may be cushioned and still bewithin the scope of the invention. The upper or broad portion of thepaddles bear each a number, the highest numbers in this instance beingborne by the two outside paddles and the lower numbers by theintermediate ones, the center paddle bearing the lowest, the reason forthis arrangement being that it is easierto strike an intermediate paddlethan a corner one, and thus the more expert a player is the higher willbe his score.

As a means for holding the paddles in operative and in tripped positionsa locking device 20 is combined with each paddle and comprises a springadjustably connected with the back of the deck and extending forwardover the front thereof and downward below the rear thereof, the extendedportions being bent or crooked to form locking-latches 21 and 22, theformer of which is adapted to engage the larger end of the paddle tohold it in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 and the latter toengage the cushioned end of the paddle to hold it in tripped position,as indicated by dotted lines in the same figure, the contactfaces of thelocking-latches 21 and 22 being disposed at an angle to the respectiveends of the paddle, thus to cause the latter readily to trip the samewhen brought into engagement therewith. In order to increase or diminishthe tension of the members of the spring, as may be necessary,thumb-screws or ordinary screws 23 and 24 are associated with thespring, which by being moved in or out will regulate the tension thereofin a manner that will be readily understood.

To effect automatic return of the paddles to their normal position afterhaving been tripped, a setting device is employed, comprising a shaft25, carrying a plurality of rearwardly-extending arms 26, one for eachpaddle, the said arms being normally housed within recesses 27 in theunder face of the bottom of the deck, and one end of this shaft isprovided with an arm or lever 28, disposed at right angles to the arms26 and to which is connected one end of a wire or cord 29, the other endof which is passed through a keeper 30, carried by one of the posts 3,and is provided with a handle 31, by which the wire or pull-cord may beoperated. To lessen the jar between the cushioned ends of the paddlesand the bottom of the deck when a paddle is tripped, a cushion 32 issecured to the said portion of the deck, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The front of the deck 12 is provided with figures corresponding withthose on the paddles, as indicated in Fig. 2, wherein the center paddleis shown as tripped to exhibit the number 5 on the deck, thiscorresponding to the number on the tripped paddle, by which means thevalue of the latter paddle may be positively determined in case anydispute should arise on this point.

The form of apparatus so far described is one adapted for use inconnection with an ordinary tenpin-alley by providing the same with theelevated table 1, with the race 9, and with the adjunctive paddlemechanism described. In other words, the structure defined is exhibitedas a fixture within a building.

In the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 5 the same is disconnected from awall or other supportand is adapted to be transported and readily set upfor use, say, at country fairs or other rural exhibitions, although itis equally well adapted to be placed within a hall. The table or alloy 1is supported upon legs 33, disposed at proper distances apart, and acushion is arranged in a housing 34 at the rear of the alley and isprovided with the transversely-disposed chute 8, communicating with therace 9 in the same manner as shown in Fig. 2, and as this will'be wellunderstood detailed illustration thereof is deemed unnecessary. There isalso a change in the construction of the deck 10, which instead of beinga trough-like structure, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, is composed of asingle length of board supported by uprights 35 and 36, corresponding tothe posts 4 and 5 of the other figures. In this form of apparatus andalso in the form described in the other figures adjusting mechanism isprovided by which the deck may be raised or lowered to suit the size ofa ball used, the point being to have the lower ends of the paddles atsuch height above the alley that a ball can trip two pins, although, ifpreferred, the deck may be so adjusted that it can only trip one pin bystriking it square in the face; but inasmuch as in the playing of thisgame a score is only made when all of the pins are knocked down it ispreferred that the pins or paddles will be adjusted so that a ball canhit two of them. The adjustment is effected by providing the posts oruprights 35 and 36, as also the posts 4 and 5, with vertical slots 37,in which the ends of the deck rest, the deck being provided withvertical slots 38, (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2,) through whichpass bolts 39, carrying nuts 40, which by being turned tightly againstthe outer edges of the supports will operate to hold the deck at anydesired adjustment.

The forms of apparatus herein shown will be found thoroughly effectivein accomplish ing the objects sought; bntit will be obvious in theirconstruction that various changes in the different parts thereof may beresorted to, according to the tastes of the users, and for this reasonit is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to theprecise mode of construction and manner of arrangement of the partsherein described and shown, as these may be Widely departed from withoutchanging the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of theinvention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what-I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A game apparatus comprising a table or alley, a deck arranged on aplane above the rear end thereof, a plurality of pins or paddlespivotally associated intermediate of their ends with the deck, and meanscarried by the deck and operating to hold the pins or paddles in normalor in tripped position, the pins being so arranged as to swing intovertical position by their own weight when released.

2. A game apparatus comprising a table or alley, a deck arranged on aplane above the rear end thereof, pins or paddles pivotally associatedintermediate of their ends with the deck, means carried by the deck andoperating automatically to hold the pins or paddles in normal or intripped position, and means operable from the front of the table oralley to reset the pins after having been tripped, the pins being soarranged as to swing into vertical position by their own Weight whenreleased.

3. A game apparatus comprising a table or alley, a plurality of pins orpaddles arranged adjacent to and supported above one end thereof, andcushioning devices, constituting counterweights, associated with thelower ends of the pins.

4. A game apparatus comprising a table or alley, a deck arranged at therear end thereof and having its front provided with numbers, pins orpaddles pivotally supported by the deck and bearing numberscorrespondingto those thereon, means operating automatically to hold thepaddles in normal or in tripped position, and a paddle-setting deviceassociated with the deck and operable from the front end of the alley.

5. A game apparatus comprising a'table or alley, and an adjustable deckarranged at the rear end thereof and supporting a plurality of pivotedpins or paddles.

6. A game apparatus comprising a table or alley, a vertically-adjustabledeck arranged at the rear end thereof, and a plurality of pins orpaddles pivotally supported by the deck.

'7. A game apparatus comprising a table or alley, a deck arranged at therear end thereof and including means for holding the same at any desiredadjustment with relation to the alley, and a plurality of pins orpaddles pivotally supported by the deck.

8. A game apparatus comprising a table or alley, a deck arranged at therear end thereof and bearing numbers and pins or paddles pivotallysupported by the deck and bearing numbers corresponding to thosethereon.

9. A game apparatus comprising a table or alley, a deck arranged at therear end thereof. and bearing numbers, pins or paddles pivotallysupported by the deck and bearing numbers corresponding to thosethereon, and means operating automatically to return a ball from therear to the front of the alley.

10. A game apparatus comprisingatable or alley, a deck arranged at therear end thereof and having its front provided with numbers, pins orpaddles pivotally supported by the deck and bearing numberscorresponding to those thereon, means operating automatically to holdthe paddles in normal or in tripped position, means operatingautomatically to return a ball from the rear to the front of the alleyafter having tripped a pin, and a pin-setting device associated with thedeck and operable from the front end of the alley.

11. A game apparatus comprising a table or alley, a deck arranged at therear end thereof and bearing numbers, pins or paddles pivotallysupported by the deck and bearing numbers corresponding to thosethereon, a transversely disposed inclined chute arranged below the deck,and a race communicating with the chute and leading to the front end ofthe alley.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL I-I. TALBERT.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. VANDYKE, JOHN A. SWAN.

